Paul Hastings Continues TX Growth Play with Energy M&A Hire
Peter Hays has had a career-long focus on onshore and offshore energy and a practice spanning both domestic and international markets.
CDT Roundup: Watt a Week as Deals Spark Up Power and Security
The week ending July 26 saw 15 transactions for just over $3 billion, which doesn't sound like much. The volume is akin to the week before, in which 14 deals were reported for $6 billion. But both pale against the 19 transactions for $16.4 billion reported last year. The plain truth is that transactions in M&A dwindled in Q2 and have stayed dwindled in the first few weeks of Q3. But take heart; Q2 was the weakest quarter in Texas M&A deals last year and the year before. But there was plenty of diversity in the mix.
One Big Beautiful Bill Disrupts Clean Energy Investment
The bill’s enactment dramatically shifts the landscape for renewables and energy transition investments. The law is expected to have a significant impact on investment in Texas, which is among the top producers of wind and solar generated electricity in the country.
CDT Roundup: Tech Titans, Crypto Surges and Old School Deals Meet Bold Moves
The week ending July 18 saw 14 deals for $6 billion dollars. The week prior saw 15 deals for $13 billion and there were 15 deals for $16 billion reported during the same week last year. But consider the actual deals and you begin to sense a difference: a $25 billion data center deal that probably will be but really isn't yet; a flurry of placements aimed at flipping the switch on crypto assets; an IPO for a Japanese AI-driven HR platform whose goal is to be a lawyer.
Willkie Continues to Expand its Dallas Office with Veteran Dealmakers
Willkie Farr & Gallagher continues to expand the Dallas office it opened a year ago, this time by hiring three veteran private equity dealmakers as partners, the firm announced Tuesday. The move by the trio of transactional lawyers — Jesse Betts, Jessica Hammons and Nathan Meredith — bolsters Willkie’s corporate & financial services vertical and its PE, M&A and capital markets capabilities.
FBFK Adds Two Lawyers to its Austin Office
FBFK Law has hired Roland Wiederaenders and Sarah Florer as shareholders in its Austin office. The veteran corporate and finance lawyers have combined expertise in private capital, fund formation and cross-border transactions that strengthen the firm's corporate and investment practice.
Texas-sized Ambition: Huntington Banks on Middle Market with $1.9B Purchase of Prized Veritex
Huntington Bancshares has accelerated its growth as a regional powerhouse with the $1.9 billion all-stock acquisition of Dallas-based Veritex Holdings. This deal significantly boosts Huntington’s footprint in Texas. Legal advisors include Simpson Thacher for Veritex and Wachtell for Huntington.
CDT Roundup: AI Gets Amped in Somewhat Quiet Week for Deals
Last week, notable transactions included a $9.8 billion AI platform deal, $1.3 billion in two deals by Mach Resources and the sale of The Dallas Morning News to Hearst. The week ending July 12 saw 15 deals valued at just over $13 billion dollars. The week prior, there were nine deals for $15.8 billion and this time last year there were 20 deals for $17.2 billion.
Owner of Houston Chronicle Buys The Dallas Morning News
In an all-cash, take-private deal valued at $74.9 million, The Dallas Morning News announced Thursday that it has agreed to join the Hearst Corporation, whose national chain of 28 daily newspapers will soon include the dailies of Texas' four most populous cities. Outside legal advisors on the deal include Haynes Boone for DallasNews and Clifford Chance for Hearst. Jeff Chapman of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher advised Robert W. Decherd, DallasNews’ majority shareholder and former chairman.
CDT Roundup: Energy Sector’s High Stakes, Hurdles and Uncertain Outcomes
Chevron’s $53 billion acquisition of Hess remains in limbo despite FTC approval, which barred the son of Hess’ founder from a Chevron board seat due to antitrust concerns and alleged OPEC collusion. The merger’s fate hinges on an arbitration decision that could be announced soon with ExxonMobil over Hess’ stake in Guyana’s lucrative Stabroek Block. Meanwhile, CITGO, formerly Venezuelan-owned, saw a new winning bid in a Delaware court auction to settle expropriation claims.
Willkie Adds Blake Winburne to its Houston Office
Winburne was global head of the energy and infrastructure group at Orrick where he worked for more than nine years. He has been named co-chair of Willkie's energy and infrastructure practice.
The Home Depot to Acquire GMS Inc. for $5.5B
Weil and Alston & Bird are advising on the acquisition of the Georgia-based building supply distributor. The acquisition is being made through Home Depot's McKinney-based subsidiary SRS Distribution, which was acquired last year for $18.25 billion.
